TEHRAN – Naval forces from Iran, Russia and China participating in join drills in the Sea of Oman have successfully completed nighttime shooting operations against aerial targets.
The Joint Maritime Security Belt Exercise 2023, which features surface and airborne units of the three countries, started in the northern Indian Ocean Thursday night.
Participants in the joint drill, including units from the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy and flotillas from China and Russia, practiced attacks on various aircraft in close coordination and in accordance with a common tactical language, spokesman Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajoddini said.
Iranian Navy chief Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said maritime security chiefly forms the basis of the joint naval drill, emphasizing that Iranian naval forces attach paramount significance to the safety of maritime navigation throughout the world.
“The focus of the first day of the naval security belt combined war game 2023 was on coordination, cooperation, rescue of vessels that have fallen prey to pirate attacks and how to counter acts of terror,” he said.
The Iranian Navy chief described combating maritime terrorism as one of the primary objectives of the naval drill.
“Presently, the unjustifiable presence of some foreign military forces continues to pose challenges to the region. The issue had to be addressed and handled. Therefore, all available military means, both in terms of watercraft and aircraft, were utilized and all designed drills were successfully exercised.”
Iranian naval forces, together with their Chinese and Russian counterparts, have held several joint war games in recent years with the purpose of improving the security of international maritime trade, countering piracy and maritime terrorism, exchange of information in naval rescue and relief operations, and exchange of operational and tactical experiences.